The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-09-17
The Presiden. and Hi. Critics.


sponsibilities, its harassing duties
and its constant and grievous exac-
tions upon his mental and physical
strength" Following closely as it
does upon the declination of Mr..
Lincoln when approached upon the
subject of his candidacy for the re-
publican nomination, for reasons
substantially the same, but, which
he assigned more fully, based upon
his observations while Secretary of
War, it furnishes material for serious
reflection how far it is proper to
stigmatize and criticise the labors
of a public servant so as to add to
the necessary cares of his office,
when he is conspicuously and con-
scientiously doing his best to dis
charge his public duties. 1t has be-
come too much the fashion for the
party out Of power to treat the in
cumbent of the high office of Chief
Executive of the nation as if he were
public enemy, whose influence and
conduct it was the duty of every cit
izen to limit and misrepresent. 1t
seems to be forgotten that the strife
of the campaign ended, party acerb-
ity ought to be forgotten, and Presi-
dent and citizen ought to remember
that something is due to patriotism,
and that while his obvious duty re-
quires him to administer his trust
upon the broadcast plane for the good
of all, and not of a section, faction
or party, the obligation of honest
and manly support rests upon friend
and foe alike so long as he performs
his public duties faithfully and in
diligently. Nor does what we say
apply more to the opposition party
than to the party in power, whose
political representative, in certain
sense, the President happens to be.
Ordinarily there has been substan
tial accord between the President
and his party, but our history has
furnished instances of bitter and re-
lentless war between them. In the
case of President Cleveland the diff
ference between himself and those
who elected him never assumed a
very serious aspect, and yet there
has been quite enough of friction to
add greatly to the harrassments OF
his official life. Upon no subject
has it manifested itself so decidedly
as in reference to civil service reform
and President Cleveland, in the in
terview to which we refer, adverts to
it. He complains of the constant
criticisms of the World, which, as
we well know, has reflected the New
York opposition to the administra-
ton. Referring to his "efforts to es-
tablish civil service reform so firmly
that there can never be return to
the old pernicious methods" he goes
on to say that mo man in the coun-
try can know the embarrassments
and the perplexities which have sur.
rounded me in attempting to amend
the condition of public affairs" and
declares that he is "trying to bring
about the remedy without the least
personal ambition" Those who
have watched the Presidents course
most carefully will doubtless give
him credit for perfect sincerity in
these declarations. The National
Civil-Service Reform League have
placed upon record their opinion
that he is in advance of his party in
promoting the reforms aimed at by
that association; that while the par
ty has only declared in favor Of
"honest civil-service reform" he has
by word and act given practical ap
plication to vague theories. He will
unquestionabiy be renominated fol-
the second term, and yet we car
point to class of so-called reform
ers who propose to maintain theil
fellowship with the national demo
cratic party upon this issue and still
commend their organ when it asserts
chat it may be the part of patriot
ism and the impulse of self-preser
. walton to oppose his continuance il
office" Another set of local politi
clans failed to defeat certain ap
, pointments, and straightway tn,
whole administration is viewed
from that standpoint alone, and MOI
as whole, in which the substantial
good far exceeds the evil, if it may
be so called. These are the kind O
people who hang like guerrillas upor
+. the skirts of the administration anC
harass it by insincere professions O
: allegiance to the party that elected
the President, while they make un
manly and insidious war upon tn,
President himself How much bet
ter it would be if all parties woult
remember the high office he fills, ant
at least treat him and it with thai
measure of consideration and respecr
that men accord to each other in tn,
ordinary pursuits Of life. Least o
all does it become those who elected
, him, and who profess at least allie
, glance to the party that hopes to re
elect him, to make him a subject O
detraction and carping criticism
simply because he has failed t
adopt their views in regard to loca
questions and appointments. Pres
dent Cleveland may well refer to til,